Combined library and dining table



A. H. STONE. COMBINED LIBRARY AND mums TABLE.

APPLICATLQN FILED NOV- 9, 1911..

Patented Mar. 23, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHIEET 1- UNVENTOR fl/ /Jfozze ATTORNEY A. H. STONE. COMBINED LIBRARY AND DINING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9, I911.

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COMBINED LIBRARY AND DINING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 9, I91].

Patented Mar. 23,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEEF 3- INVENTOR I (/f/wzozze ATTORNEY UNIiTED STATES a rnnr oniiion.

ANDREW I'll. STONE, O KANSAS GITY, MISSOURI.

COMBINED LIBRARTE AND DINING TABLE.

fib rL ZZ echo/1r it may concern:

i s, it known that I, .r. NDRE'W l-l. STONE, of Kansas Uit v Jackson county, Missouri, and a citizen oi. the United States have invented. certain new and useful Improvements in ilombined Library and Dining: Tables, oi. which the following is a specifitmtion.

This invention relates to combined library and dining tables and my object is to pro duce a combination table which in either oi: its terms shall constitute a strong; and rigid. structure, and which can be easily and tpiiclrly converted from one form into the other term. A further object is to produce a convertible table of this type which is ct attractive appearance in either form and which is of simple and inexpensive construction.

With these objects in View, the invention consists in certain novel. and. useful features oi. construction and combinations oi? parts as hereinaiter described and claimed; and in order that it may be i'tull' uiidcretooih reference is to be had to the acconipanyingi; d rawings in which lii 'uro 1, is a top pian view oi? a structure when arranged as a dining room table, the figure showing one of the wings of the extension oi? the table, :folded back to disclose itliie relation of certain underlyingparts otherwise hidden in said figure.

Fig. 2. is a fragmentary plan view showing certain adjustments oi parts necessary to be made in converting); the structure from. alibi-art table into a dining table,

Fig.2; 3, is a side view oi the structure as arr aired in. Fin. 2.

i, is an enlarged vertical. section tal in on the line li -IV oi? Fig. 5.

is a vertical. section on the same scale as liig i, but talten on the line V-V of i? i.

ii 'ig. G is a top plan view on a still hir r scale, oi. one corner oi the table, with the top oniiitted.

Fin: 'l', is a vertical line Vll llll of Fig.

Fig. 8 is a 'tical. scale as Fig (i, to show the con latches.

Fig" 9, an ini 'erted plan view oi the table with the legs thereof in section at one end an d emitted at the other end.

10 is a fragmentary perspective view oi one oi the upper corners of the leg frame.

section. taken on the 4.

section on the same on tl c dottedline Vllii ruei'ion oi the table top Specification Letters Patent Patented Mar. 23., 1920,

Application fi1ed November 9, 1917.

Seri al No. 201,853.

Fig. 11, is a broken plan view on an enlarged scale of one oi. the latches for secur inp; the table top extension wings in operative position.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, 1 indicates the iran'iework oi the table, and beading strips at the lower ed 'e thereof, said framework being oi rectangular ioriin and braced near its ends and parallel therewith by crossbars 3 and a longitudinal. bar 1:, the former extending from the lower ed on of the rear wall of the iranie to the bar i to which bars are tongued and ,e rooved or otherwise rigidly connected said longitruiinal bar l being secured to the iront wall oi? said frame at the lower margin thereof. Mounted upon the crossbars 3 and ii (l therewith, are vertical ribs 5 which extend from the front to the back wall of s: id framework.

At points intermediate the ribs and the adjacent and bars oi: the iraineiwn'ln the trout and baclr. walls oi? the latter are iorrnerl at their inner sides with vertical grooves (i and outward oi? the plane oi each pair oi said grooves, blocks 7 are secured to the o l bars of the irainework at the inner sidi oi? said bars and secured to the framework at the inner side of the back wall thereoi are blocks 8, the said bloclts and grooves in conjunction with the framework providing for the attachment oi? the latter to the leg: or suprmrting framework liereinaiinr do scribed. Secured to each rib at the outer side tlioreoi is a bar 9 the rear ends thereit sloping downward and rearward to iorin cains 10. The upper edges of said bars preferably slope at a slight angle upwardly and forwardly to iiorni inclined ways ii, and the front ends of the said bars are spaced rearwardly from the front wall of the table to form pockets 12. (See Fig" Secured to each of the ribs 3 vertically above the bars 9, are gruide strips 13, the space between. each strip 13 and bar con stituting a pa e 1 1-. (ides Fi l andv 5.) iilecured to the ribs 5 at their inner sides are strips 15, and formed in the upper edges of the said ribs and the said strips: 13 and 15 are notches or recesses 16 the same beinn alined with each other and with corresponding notches or recesses 17 in the end walls or bars oi": the framework. The notches 16 and 1.7 are for the purpose oi receiving a dependinebead oi the table top hereinafter described, when said top is adjusted to the position' it occupies when. the structure is arranged as a dining table.

The front wall of the framework from one rid 5 to the other, is recessed as at 18 and normally filling said recess is the front wall 19 of a sliding drawer 20 for holding the extension of the table top as hereinafter more particularly explained. The sides of the drawer are shallower than the wall 19 thereof and rest upon the crossbars 3 and longitudinal bar 4 of the framework and underlie the strips 15, as clearly disclosed in Fig. 5. The back wall 21 of the said drawer corresponds in height to the side walls thereof so that it may slide forward under the retaining strips 15 when the drawer is drawn open. The drawer is provided with a central opening 22 sub-divided by a central strip .i-j forming a guide for a sliding element hereinafter described.

Referring now to the supporting or leg 7 frame, 2% indicates four corner legs to fit at the upper ends against the under side of the framework at the four corners thereof, and said legs are provided *ith upwardly projecting rectangular tenons 25, fitting in the respective corners of said framework, and the tenons at corresponding ends of the framework are connected by cross bars :46 which project beyond the tenons so that they may snugly fit the grooves 6 in the front and back walls of the framework it i being noted in this connection that the blocks 7 act as braces and guides for the crossbars 26 at the outer sides thereof and that the blocks 8 form corresponding guides and braces for said crossbars 26 at the rear ends of the inner sides thereof, and said crossbars 26 are provided in the upper edges with. recesses 2'7 to accommodate a certain pair of blocks hereinafter described and the dep'endinmbead. of the table top also hereinafter described, when the said table top is in the position it must occupy when used for a dining table.

The table top 29 is of slightly greater area than the saidframework and. is provided with a depending head 30, the front portion of which head is provided at two points with recesses 31 for the accommodation of'a certain part hereinafter mentioned and for the reception of a finger or two of theperson who d :sires to convert the structure from one form of table to the other, one of said notches being shown in Fig. 4. Secured to the table top at the under side thereof, pair of stop-blocks 32, which blocks limit the rearward sliding movement of the table top in the adjustment thereof preliminary to converting the structure from a. library table into a. dining table, the said stops in said adjustment abutting against the blocks 8 hereinbefore described. In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the table top occupies the adjusted position mentioned and in Fig. 4 such position is indicated by dotted lines, with blocks 32 against blocks 8.

Angle blocks 38 for operation between ribs 5 and the crossbars 26 of the supporting leg structure, are secured rigidly by screws 34 to and depend from the table top, the front ends of said blocks being tupcrml downward and rearward so that the l locks shall not bind and interfere with free tilting movement of the table top prelimiuar to its rearward adjustment mentioned. The blocks 33 are provided with grooves 35 in their upper sides and with vertical grooves 36 con'nnunicating with grooves 35, and journaled in grooves and prevented from dislocation from said grooves by the lzllllo top itself, are rockshafts 37, the same being provided with crank arms 38 extending downward through the vertical grooves 30 and terminating in forwardly projecting latches or ends 39 for cngagc 'nent with certain catches hereinafter mentioned. The rockshafts extend forwardly through recesses 40 formed in the upper edge of the front wall of the framework and terminate forward of the framework in crank handles 41 which project into the recesses 31 of the heading of the table top so that one can readily apply upward pressure on said handles and rock said latches suliicieutly to disengage them from either of the two catches hereinl'iefore mentioned but not as yet identified. The latches are held yieldingly advanced by prings 4C2bearing against crank arms 3 within the grooves 36, the

7 upper ends of said springs being secured in cross-grooves 48 in blocks by filling strips 44- securcd in said cross-grooves.

Projecting inwardly from the blochs 3 near the front lower corners thereof, are pins or rollers 4A for engagement with the pockets 12 provided at the front ends of the blocks 9, as hercinbefore described. (500 Fig. 4.) hen the table top is tilted prcliminary to adjusting it from its library table position, as shown by dotted lines, Fig. 4%, the pins or rollers 44 are raised out of said pockets so that if rearward pressure is then applied upon. the table top. it is free to slide rearwardly because said pins or rollers pass rearwardly through the passages 11, and by gravity the table top swings lo\\'u ward slowly until the pins or rollers clea the rear ends of the blocks when the front end will swing sharply downward s the pin or rollers ride down upon the cam surfaces 10 of said blocks and as they attain the positions shown by dotted lines. Fig. 4. the rearward movement of the table top is arrested by the abutment of the blocks 32 against blocks 8, as hereinbefore explained. This sharp and final downward movement of the table top to a horizontal position is permitted because the front portion of its beading 30 registers with and enters the recesses 16 ill) fill

and 17 hereinhefore described, and as it is forced down, the tern'iinals 39 of the latches ride down and are repre d by the beveled catches secured rigidly to the cross-bars As the top attains a horizontal position in. its rearward limit of adjustment, the terminals of said latches clear said catches and the springs $2 react and cause the tern'iin'als 39 to engage under the catches and thereby prm'ent raising movement of the top until the latches are nnfastened by applying pressure by hand on the handles -1l-1.

r-tt this time the front portion of the beading; 30, not only enters the recesses 16 and 17 as explained to permit the top to rest flatly upon the frai'nework in dining table position but also with the lateral]y-projecting portions of blocks 33. enters the recesses 27 in the upper edges of the leg-connecting Near the front wall of the framework, catches l6, similar to the catches l5, project from the hers 3, and are adapted to be like "wise autoniatieally engaged by the latches when the table top is drawn forward and then tilted down to normal or library table position as shown by full lines in Fi Li, and preliminary to the rearward adjustn'ient of the said top, the handles of the latches niust be manipulated as explained, to disengage the latches from the catche. to. The engement of the said latches with tl'iecatches or 4:6,. locks the top rigidly upon the frun'iework, as will be readily understood.

To retain the top in position, and constitute a. pivotal support and guide for the same in its pivotal and sliding movements, the top provided in its underside with a pair of channels st. extending from its rear nu'irgin about halfway to its front margin, and said channels are Plld) underlapped from one side by strips l8, secured to the top and engaged by retainers. l he retainers consist of rods 19. fastened to the baclnvall of the frauwwork and prin'ided withinwardly-projecting ends or tongues 50, fitting; over the said strips and within the said channels to hold the lop upon the frame wort: without interferii' with the sliding and pivotal action of the top.

To abut against be r t of the framework and. thus guard against the drawer being roinpletely withdrawn from the table, a pair of stop-bloclts 51 are secured to the drawer at underside. and fitting upon the central {,[llii'lQ-llili :23 to slide thereoi'a is a channeled slide rigidly secured to and depending sli 'htly from a slidable cros bar 53 extendinp transversely of and within the drawer, the channeled slide 52 serving to hold the crossdiar 57-; slightly above the bottom of the drawer to avoid friction between said. parts. and also guarding against twisting; and binding movements of said cross-bar, and said parts are prevented from moving upward within the drawer by longitudinal retaining cleats 5i, overlying the ends of the crossbar and secured to and within the drawer.

Near the ends of the cross-bar 53 are secured a pair of bearing lugs 55, provided with vertical rearwari'llydating shoulders 56. and between said lugs is a top-extension 57, provided with a pair of wings, hereinafter identified. Near its rear end the extension 57 is pivotally mounted on the central or body-portion of a U-shaped shaft 58, the arms, or cranks 59 of said shaft, terminating in. alined ends journaled in the said bearing lugs. the arrangementbeing such that the extension of the top can be graspi-zd and swung; forwardly with the ends of said shaft 58 as the axis of such movement. The said shaft is of such proportion it will raise the rear end of the extension to the plane of the top when the latter after being adjusted rearwardly, is swung downward and secured in the position shown by Fig. 2:). lt will be not-ed by reference to the lastna1ned figure, that the crank-arms of said shaft are limited in their forward swinging movement by the rearwardly-facing shoulders 56. andthat at such time the extension 57 is resting on the front wall of the drawer so that the closing movement of the latter re sults in the abutment of the inner edge of the extension against the front edge of the top, as shown by Fig. it will be under stood of course, thatbefore the extension is withdrawn froin the drawer to its elevated position the drawer must be fully opened, as indicated h F 2, and that when the e):- tension is grasped and raised until its front edge clears the front wall. of the drawer, it can be pulled out until it attains the position shown most clearly in Fig. 3 the cam, lugs 60 at the underside of the e acting as levers to exert a lifting the rear end of the extension to facilitate the forward rockin action of the crank shaftand when. the extension is released the square or abrupt ends of said lugs lit against the front side of the drawer to impart closing Increment thereto when a backward push. is applied on the extension. The extension is provii'lcd at its front edge with a de 'iendin r head ('31.. to conform to the head of the top. and to lift said head over the front wall of the drawer in returning the extension to position. within the drawer, cam. lugs 62, are secured to the underside of the extension.

.i pair of sidi-ywings 63, are hinged at 6i. to the extension so asto be capable of lying inverted or folded upon it or of lying in the same plane as and at opposite sides of the extension, and said wings are provided with beads (35. at their outer ends and sides, conforming to the beads of the top and the said extension thereof.

QWhen; the parts have been disposed as shown byFigs; 2 and3,-the drawer is closed until 'arrested by the impingement" of the rear end of the extension upon the;front edge ofthe top.. The wings are then unfolded, until they rest upon. the adjacent corners of the framework 1, as shown by the left-hand wing in Fig. 1, and fit squarely against the front edge of the top. To secure the wings in this position so that in conjunction with the interposed. extension,

of the block. from recess 69, and under a keeper 72, bridging said recess 71, and said shaft is held with its latch end advanced. by av spring 7 3 secured in recess 69 and bearing against the handle of the said shaft. The framework 1, near each corner; is provided with a recess'74, to receive one of the latch ends when the respective wing is pressed down upon 7 the framework, and adjacent eachrecessf'ii is a beveled catch 75,, to repress the latchend as the same passes down into the recess, the said latch end it clears the lower edge ofthe said catch. snapping under the latter and thus locking the wing to the framework. The table is then ready for use as a dining table.

To reconvert the table into a library table, the operator reaches under the wings and applies pressure on the handles of the latches thereof to disengage the latches from the said catches, and at the same time applies upward pressure on the wings to swing the same to folded position upon the extension. The latches for the top are then tripped from engagement with the catches 4:5, to permit the table top to be tilted up at its front edge. The drawer is then pulled open to permit the-extension and superimposed wings to bestored in an obvious manner Within it, and is then reclosed, and as this is accomplished, the top is pulled forward until arrested by the blocks 32'stril ing the front wall of the framework and is then pressed down until the top-controlling latches pass and snap under the catches a6 and thus lock the top rigidly in place.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced a convertible table possessing the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the object of the invention, and while I have illustrated and described the preferred en1- bodiment of the invention, it will be understood that it is susceptible of changes in form, proportion, detail construction and organization without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A table comprising a rectangular framework provided with recesses in the upper cd 'es of its endbars, a single-piece top adjustable to completely or partly cover said framework and provided with a depending head at its front edge to occupy a position forward of the framework or depend within said recesses; said top occupying the same horizontal plane in both positions of adjustment, and means for securing the top rigidly in either of said, positions.

2. A table comprising a rectangular framework, a top normally covering the entire framework and adjustable rearwardly to uncover a substantial portion of the front part of the framework and overhang the lat ter at the rear thereof, means for preventing back and forth slidable movement of said top when in a horizontal position, and means for clamping the top flatly down upon the framework in a horizontal position when in its normal position or at the rearmost limit of its adjustment.

3. A table comprising a framework, a top normally covering the framework and adjustable rearwardly to uncover a substantial portion of the framework and overhang at the rear side of the latter, a. latch mechanism and a pair of catches for respective engagement; with the latch mechanism when the top is in its normal position or in its rearward position of: adjustment, to clamp the top in horizontal position upon the said framework, and means for preventing forward or rearward movement of the top when the table top is in a horizontal position.

4. A table comprising a framework, a top upon said framework and susceptible of back and forth movement thereon, a pair of bars rigid with the framework and below the top. front and rear catches adjacent the ends of said bars. blocks depending from the top within said framework and engaging said rectangular bars at sides thereof, pins projecting from said blocks and adapted to stand at the front or rear ends of the latter or to pass along the fill all

horizontally on the framework at each end of its back and forth movement, front and rear catches secured to the framework, latches carried by the top and adapted to engage the front or rear catches when the top is flatly engaging the framework at one end or the other of its sliding adjustment, and means movable with the top for travel through said channels when the top is in tilted position and slidingly moved, and for occupying said pockets when the top is at the forward limit of its adjustment; the front edge of said. top when. at the rear end ofits movement, being rearward of the vertical plane of the front edge of the framework.

6. A table provided with a rectangularframework having ribs connecting its front and rear walls, corner legs secured to the framework,-bars connecting the legs at cor responding ends of theframework and extending parallel with the end bars of the framework and said ribs,a top slidingly and pivotally mounted on the framework for back and forth movement, said top being adapted to rest flatly and horizontally on the framework, at each end of its back and forth movement, and being provided with a pair of blocks between each rib and adjacent leg-connecting bar to guide the top in its sliding movement and to limit such move ment by abutment against fixed parts of the framework, and means for rigidly securing the top in either of its adjusted positions to said framework; the front edge of said top when at the rear end of its movement, being rearward of the vertical plane of the front edge of the framework.

7. A table comprising a rectangular framework provided with recesses in the upper edges of its end bars and a recess in its front wall, a top adjustable to completely or partly cover the framework and provided with a depending head at its front edge to occupy a position forward of the framework or depend within said recesses of the end hars, means for securing the top rigidly in either of said positions, drawer slidable through and when closed filling the said recess in the front wall of the framework, a slide within said drawer, a rock-shaft having crank arms bearing a journaled relation to said slide, a top extension pivoted on. the rock-shaft and adapted to lie within said drawer or to be supported in the plane of the top when the latter rests on the frame work in its rearmost position, by said shaft and the front wall of the drawer and to abut at its rear edge the front edge of the top when the drawer is closed, a pair of wings hinged to the side edges of the extension to lie upon or to flank and lie in the same horizontal plane as said extension, and when in the last-named position abut the front edge of the top and lie upon said framework, and

means for rigidly securing said wings to the framework.

8. A table couiiprising a framework, :1 sliding drawer carried thereby, atop adapted to partly cover the framework, a slide within the drawer, provided with lugs near each side thereof, the lugs having rearwardly-facing shoulders, an extension for the top, a crank shaft forming-a pivot for said extension and journaled at its ends in said lugs and adapted to swing forward until its crank arms abut said shoulders, to raise the rear end of said extension and permit its front portion to be deposited upon the front wall of said drawer in the horizontal plane of said topso that the rear end of the extension, when the drawer is closed shall abut the front edge of the top, wings hinged to opposite side edges of the extension to lie inverted upon the same when wholly within the drawer or to, unfold and lie upon the corners ofsaid framework and against the front edge of the top, and means to secure the wings firmly in the last-minted position.

9. A. table comprising a framework l1aving a recess in its front wall and a top, a drawer slidable in the framework and when closed filling said recess, and provided with a central guide, a slide engaging said guide for back and forth movement in the drawer, a transverse bar carried by the guide, cleats secured to the drawer and overlapping the ends of said bar as a guide therefor, lugs secured to the said bar near its ends, a transversely extending rock-shaft within the drawer and ournaled at its ends in said lugs, a table top extension pivoted to the rockshaft between said lugs and adapted when pulled forward to cause the said shaft to rock and lift the rear end of the extension to the plane of the said top and to move the said slide and transverse bar forward, and lugs secured to the extension for engagement with the front side of the drawer to close the latter when pressure is applied on the said extension in a rearwardly direction.

10. A table, a rectangular framework provided with recesses in the upper edges of its end walls, guide bar's parallel to and spaced inwardly from the end walls of the frame work and forming pockets in conjunction with the front wall of the framework, a top for the table and normally covering the entire framework and arovided at its front margin with a depen ing bead adapted to stand. forward of the front wall of the frzunework or to depend into the recesses in the upper edges of the end walls, blocks depending from the said top adjacent said guide bars, and laterally projecting pins projecting from said blocks and adapted when the table top is in normal or forward position to stand in said pockets and when adjusted rearwardly with its said head encomprising a framework, a top rearwardly adjustable on and adapted when adjusted to uncover the front part of said framework, a forwardly movable drawer in the framework, a three-part extenslon for the top abutting at its rear edge against the front edge'of the top, two of said extension parts resting upon the uncovered corners of the framework, and the third extension part resting upon the front wall of the drawer and all of said parts lying in the same horizontal plane, and means for automatically locking the said extension parts resting upon the front corners of the framework, to the latter and, for manual operation to effect unlocking of said parts.

12. A combined library and dining table,

comprising a framework, :1 top rearwardly adjustable on and adapted when adjusted to uncover the front part of said framework, a. forwardly movable drawer in the framework, and a three-part extension for the top abutting at its rear edge against the front edge of the top, two of said extension parts resting upon the uncovered corners of the framework, and the third extension part resting upon the front wall of the drawer and all of said parts lying in the same horizontal plane; the extension parts resting on the corners of the framework being :loldablv connected to and adapted to rest upon the remaining extension part, and the latter having a movable connection with the drawer for adjustment with the companion extension parts wholly within the drawer or to a position partly supported upon and projecting forwardly beyond the front wall of the drawer.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto allix my signature.

ANDREW H. SION E. 

